After a 2011 season that ended in disappointment with a third round playoff loss to Arlington Martin, Euless Trinity will enter 2012 with leveled expectations. And that is just fine with Trojan defensive end Gaius Vaenuku.

"If we're unranked then we're more humble than we are when we're ranked," Vaenuku said. "When we are ranked we have too much pride."

"The one thing (the coaches) tell us is to, because we like to have fun, is that there's a time for playing and there's a time for being serious. Practice is a time to be serious, we had incidents with horseplay in locker room."

As usual Trinity sent several players to Division 1 programs in 2012, including some highly ranked defensive and offensive lineman like guard Hiva Lutui (Utah) and defensive end Polo Manukainiu (Texas A&M).

While that kind of senior talent keeps the Trojans on top year in and year out, it creates a lot of unknowns. Vaenuku is one of those unknowns heading into the fall, having been a varsity backup last season.